- Katja Henning -

- Claudia Ehrhardt -

- Claudia Ehrhardt -

- Claudia Ehrhardt -

- Mike Thompson -

Iron Savior was one of the first bands I heard back when I was beginning my journey into the metal underground. Since that fateful day the band has always had regular spins from me and has never let me down with subsequent releases. I also feel lucky to have seen them on what I believe is still the only UK appearance at Bloodstock indoor in 2005. I've been looking forward to a new Iron Savior record since being blown away by the last release, 2007's Megatropolis.

For those who don't know Iron Savior, the band was formed by the legend Kai Hansen, Piet Sielck and Thomen Staunch (ex-Blind Guardian). With lyrics at first based solely on a science fiction story involving the legend of Atlantis and a giant space-faring vessel which gives the band its name, the band played a hard -edged power metal style with Hansen's high vocals contrasting magnificently with the deeper, grittier voice of Sielck. They recorded the first EP and album in 1997. The band has undergone many lineup changes, including the departure of Hansen and Stauch but this has not affected the band at all. Minimal style changes and a sound very much their own has allowed Savior to go from strength to strength with each new album arguably surpassing the last.

With The Landing Sielck and co unleash their seventh album. Unsurprisingly, not a great deal has changed. A bass heavy sound rumbles forth from the speakers complimenting Sielck's characteristic vocals perfectly. Minimal keyboards occasionally add a little extra dimension to the music but never dominate as is the norm in many Euro-power metal bands. Its fair to say that I liked this album the moment I put it on.

That being said, even I have to admit that The Landing isn't quite on the level of previous albums. All of the qualities of Iron Savior are there but there are no songs that truly stick in your memory. Every Iron Savior album previously has one, if not more, absolute gems. However, I'm struggling to really remember any of the songs on this album even just moments after hearing them. Five times I've played this so far and I still can't recall a single riff! Obviously the songs are not bad, far from it, they're all enjoyable, solid slabs of metal. However, none of them has the x factor that would make them a must-hear classic.

Actually, there is one songs that sticks in my mind, only that's because I don't like it! The album's penultimate track, Before The Pain, is a ballad. To me it just seems out of place and nothing about it tugs at the emotions at all, something which I think is the purpose of a ballad! Probably Iron Saviorr's worst song in my opinion. Still, its short and doesn't detract too much from the album and heck, every band is allowed one bad song!

So, The Landing is overall not a classic but it is a good, solid album that won't disappoint anyone. That it doesn't live up to the legacy of Unification, Condition Red or Megatropolis is slightly disappointing but hell, I still enjoyed it and expect it to rack up a great many plays over the coming years!

It's 10 years since Iron Savior's debut came out. At that time the band was a trio and mastermind Piet Sielck was joined by long-time friend Kai Hansen and Blind Guardian drummer Thomen Stauch. Now the four-piece - only Piet Sielck is left over from their early days - they present their 6th long player - Megatropolis.
Since the release of Battering Ram in 2004 it was a bit quite about the band. Partly because Piet worked with Thomen Stauch on Savage Circus' debut Dreamland Manor.
Opening up with a double-bass attack and heavy riffs they start Running Riot. The first track shows some new elements in the sound of Iron Savior, but at the same time they stick to their roots. The vocals of Piet Sielck are more varied this time. Running Riot - a neckbreaker with a catchy hookline. The following The Omega Men shows that it was time to change a bit, but still its powerful riff-based heavy metal. The vocals are more melodic... No longer a big chorus, more focus on the raspy vocals. On Flesh they stick more to the mid-tempo... A thunderous noise and dark, mean vocals. Different and unexpected. On the title track for awhile the vocals are the main focus - and they are catchy. Here Piet's style partly remind me of Hansi Kürsch, but a bit deeper and more raspy. But the song don't sound like Blind Guardian, so... Screaming guitars and a guitar duel in the middle part of the song then back to twin guitar leads - very cool. Slowing down with Cybernatic Queen just to push down the accelerator a bit more with the staccato guitar-based A Tale From Down Below. True in-your-face metal it's what Iron Savior deliver for years and this one is only the next step stone on their way.
On the limited edition they added one track - Hammerdown - on position no. 9, so that Farewell And Good Bye still leads out.
This album will take more then a spin to get into and to discover it. They stick to their roots and manage to sound different at once. Well done!
Check out: Flesh, Cybernatic Queen, Still I Believe and Megatropolis.

The album starts with a straight, heavy tune which remind me a little of Judas Priest... But just in the beginning... During the choruses the powerful choir has similarities to Blind Guardian. But that are just reminiscences and only last for a few seconds. The Hanseatic continued and got stronger with this album. The quartet offers mainly fast, heavy tunes with screaming guitars. The title track easily hooks you up and drags you into the Iron Savior universe. This time master Piet Sielck left the sci-fi concept partly behind and writes about other topics like the aftermath of terrorism. The track Time Will Tell starts with heavy, fast guitar riffing, then pounding bass and hammering drums join in. Here Piet's vocals sound a little different, even if his deep, whiskey-laden voice is unique. This song combines elements of different metal genres. A real neck breaker. A more mid-tempo track is Wings Of Deliverance. An intense song. Here Piet and partner in crime 'Piesel' offer a guitar duel in the middle part while drummer Thomas Nack delivers the fast beat. On Break The Curse the staccato guitar riffing let you think of Judas Priest again, here Piet partly works with high-pitched vocals - what's for him high-pitched - and different styles. That makes the song interesting. The hook is catchy and you'll sing along at a concert from the beginning. A hyper-fast song they recorded with Riding Free. But still this one has melody and catchiness and has some mid-tempo parts. Totally different is Machine World, a heavy rocker with screaming guitar riffs. One of my favorites on this CD. Followed by an up-tempo metal hymn called H.M. Powered Man which is also the last song on this disc. Seems this is autobiographical... Partly describes quite good Iron Savior mastermind Piet Sielck.
If someone expects something completely new from Iron Savior, will be disappointed. The band has already found their style and now tries to make it more perfect. At the same time no Iron Savior album sounds like the other... Perhaps it can be said that they became more mature... Anyway, I can recommend this album to all fans of power metal, all fans of Gamma Ray, Primal Fear, Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, etc. Anyway, it's fun to listen to this album!
Check out: Battering Ram, Wings Of Deliverance, Break The Curse and Machine Head.

Since the band was founded they released 3 full-length albums and some MCDs. Now they are back with Con­dition Red! In the beginning they got attention from media and fans coz with Kai Hansen and Thomen Stauch two well-known German musicians were part of Iron Savior. The line-up changed, but is now stable and Iron Savior got established through their album releases and live shows.
They have their own sound and on Condition Red the quintet present their fast, melodic power metal their best. Listen to tracks like Ironbound, Condition Red or Walls Of Fire and you will know what I'm talking about! But also have some 'slower' tracks like Warrior which is a mid-tempo tune. With their 4th studio album the band also offer some new sounds, not drastically changes.... Just here and there some new elements, perhaps because the band grew together and everybody is now taking part and influences the songs.
A more mature album... And if you listen to the cover version of Seal's Crazy which is a bonus track on the limited edition, you will be surprised! This version rocks! Only the chorus is a little cheesy, but the original is as well. The other bonus track is starting with an interesting drum groove and is an unusual track for Iron Savior, but why only as a bonus track? This would fit into the regular CD as well and present the Hanseatic quintet in a different way... Anyway, another good album! They are on their way to the top level of German power metal bands!

Dark Assault
(Noise International - 2001)

Really impressing what the Hanseatic presents here on their 3rd studio album! Straight forward metal with a lot variations - that's the way we like it. You can pick the opener Never Say Die or Solar Wings, I've Been To Hell, Predators or Eye Of The World – it doesn't matter, coz all songs will make a true metalhead happy! A real killer song is Dragon Rising and also the slower Made Of Metal. With After The War they present a slow track and a quite unusual one, coz here Piet got joined on vocals by Jan! Great piece of work which will make you longing for more!